My Year in the Blog-Sphere

I began blogging at a time in my life–the year was 2011, the month was November–when I needed to be fully engaged in something. It’s amazing how the landscape of your life can change in a year’s time, and who would’ve thought blogging about crab legs and barbecue would’ve filled a hole I never knew was missing?

Blogging allows me to combine many of my favorite things like eating, food and cooking but also writing, taking pictures, being on camera and sharing my personality and passion for coastal culture and the South. I really didn’t have any expectations when I set out to blog, other than not being one of those people on Facebook that share nothing but food pictures–because unknowingly, I was that girl for a long time. The moment became very real to me when a friend commented on one of my food pictures with this: “Facebook: Rebekah’s Food Diary.” I thought, ‘Wow, he’s right. There’s a better way.’

Enter Some Kinda Good.

Some Kinda Good’s original design by my friend, Amanda Hudson.

With a background in web writing and PR, I had all the skills in place. I set out to learn WordPress and gathered up some photos of the food I’d cooked. Not surprisingly, I had plenty of content at the ready, as though it had been stockpiled for its moment in the sun.

Some Kinda Good has evolved over the year, and I’m kind of embarrassed at some of my earlier posts. You’ve got to start somewhere though. As one of my favorite quotes says, “The expert in anything was once a beginner.”

Some Kinda Good’s current design by my friend, Tori Sprankel.

Throughout the year, I’ve built relationships with restaurant owners, food and beverage connoisseurs, food writers and other bloggers. I’ve gotten to meet notable cookbook authors, culinary producers, well-respected chefs and colleagues at food & beverage public relations firms throughout the Southern seacoast. I’ve also subscribed to Bon Appetite Magazine and become a sort of amateur kitchen expert among friends and family. I’ve worked with ingredients I once considered foreign like, heirloom tomatoes and pimiento-cheese. I’ve sampled restaurant dishes I thought I would never order like fried chicken and waffles or an open-face whole egg omelet topped with goat cheese, sautéed shrimp, spiced pecans and arugula….for breakfast!

I’ve learned to be true to me, that you can’t pursue a food trend because it’s a trend. When I did that, I only did it for the sake of being popular, to show that I too was up-to-speed with food on a stick, kid food for adults and all things local and organic. While it was fun to experiment, those ventures lacked passion.

And we all know without passion, the fire dies.

All along, my philosophy has been guided by one thought from Julia Child who said, “Find something your passionate about, and keep tremendously interested in it.” I’m a firm believer that it’s never too late to do the things you love, and when you do the things you love, success comes.

Some Kinda Good was ranked #2 on Urbanspoon’s Leaderboard of Top Georgia Food Blogs September – November 2012.

These are the successes I’m celebrating…a few highlights from my year in the blog-sphere:

Without sounding too much like I’ve won a Grammy, I couldn’t celebrate my successes without acknowledging a few special folks:

Thanks to my mom and best friend Charity, who without fail were always the first to comment on my posts, even when the content lacked interest or when no one else cared. Thanks to my graphic designer friends, Amanda and Tori for giving my blog the exact look and feel I envisioned, as it progressed throughout the year. To Angela and Jennifer, my other best friends, thanks for all your encouraging words…your affirmation often kept me going. To my former co-workers and friends in the PR department at Floyd Medical Center, your belief in my abilities blows my mind. Thank you for your constant reassurance, for calling me out when my posts aren’t well beyond expectations and for holding me to the Class of Style standard.

With nearly 15,000 hits and a healthy following through social media, I’m pretty stoked. Not too shabby for my first year in the blog-sphere. Some Kinda Good is bringing my dreams to life. Maybe year two will include The Cooking Channel or Food Network. Dream big or go home!

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Testimonials

"You are doing really great stuff for South Georgians. You're the Roy Hobbs of pastured birds. Great blog." - Brandon Chonko, Grassroots Farms
"Your blogging is as impeccable as your taste in food. Thank you for the excellent review!" - Seni Alabi-Isama, Chef/Owner of South & Vine Public House
"I've been following Some Kinda Good for a bit now and I really like your blogging style and photography." - Amy Brock, Visit Savannah
"We had so much fun with Rebekah and am very thankful for her stopping by the farm and enjoying a day with us! She is a very talented blogger." - Hunter Cattle Company
"I loved looking at your blog site. What a great thing you have! I am going to share it with Annabell Carr at Savannah Magazine. She would love it (if she is not already a fan)." - Jennifer Abshire, Abshire Public Relations
"It’s obvious that being close to the coast agrees with you. Being in Southeast Georgia has somehow nurtured you, sparking renewed confidence and a true excitement about what you do for a living. Just remember me when you get your own show or TV special." - Bill Fortenberry, Public Relations Specialist
"Rebekah, your work is amazing." - Bob Swinehart, Editor of Coastal Illustrated
"I was turned on to this bastion of innovative Southern cooking by Georgia blogger Rebekah who quoted, "Dining the Way the South Intended." She was so right." - Jon Rector, Editor of The Oracle
"I love your blog...really clean...good content! Great job!" - Doy Cave, Web Content Manager
"Your blog gets better and better with each new post! So proud of you my friend!" - Charity Rauls
"Your blog is charming. I cannot wait to read more of it." - Leigh Hines, Hines-Sight Blog
"I came across your blog, Some Kinda Good, and was really impressed with what you have going on. Out of all of other restaurant blogs in the area - yours really stands out for the quality of the writing. " - Andrew Glass, Co-Founder of Foodio54